Druid Hills Neighborhood near Emory University

Posted on April 1, 2012by atlantadecaturhomes

Druid Hills is one of the most desirable Atlanta neighborhoods, located just a few miles from downtown Atlanta in unincorporated DeKalb County, and bordered by wide, curvy Ponce de Leon Avenue.

The Historic Druid Hills neighborhood was originally developed in the early 20th Century by a local businessman who hired the famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead and his son, to design and implement the development of the area. Wonderful foresight produced lovely winding streets, overhanging trees, neighborhood parks and gracious homes along streets like Lullwater, Springdale and Oxford. For a more comprehensive history of the area, Druid Hills resident, David Hartle, has written Druid Hills, A Brief History.

Architectural styles in the area include stately Georgian and Tudors, as well as more humble Bungalows. Flowering Dogwoods and Azaleas are a trademark and present on most of the streets in Druid Hills.

A recent facelift and roundabout has enhanced Emory Village and the entrance to Emory University, which are located in the Druid Hills Historical District. Once a bottleneck, traffic now moves easily through the intersection and into the area. Pedestrian traffic enjoys continuous walkways through the intersection and is a pleasure to transverse.

Emory Village is small with several popular restaurants, drycleaners, bookstore and limited parking. It is located adjacent to Emory University and is a lively, bustling destination.

The main entrance to Emory University is located in Emory Village on the roundabout. Emory University was originally founded by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of Methodist bishop, John Emory. According to Wikipedia, the university has nearly 3000 faculty members and almost 14,000 students. U.S. News & World Reports placed Emory at 20th in national university rankings in 2012. Emory has a beautiful campus with old trees and extensive green space. Several years ago, Emory opted to become a pedestrian only campus and instituted the free Cliff shuttle system for students, faculty and staff. The Carlos Museum is located on the campus and houses one of the most comprehensive art collections in the SE.

Atlanta Decatur Homes, a local Atlanta real estate company, selling homes in Atlanta, Druid Hills, Decatur, Medlock Park, and Emory University neighborhoods for over 25 years. Professional Rental Management services are also offered.

Emory Grove - Historic Atlanta Neighborhood

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Emory Grove is a historic neighborhood of bungalow-style homes, built in the latter part of 1939 and early 1940's by L. Neal Smith, a prominent builder of the time.  Mr. Smith's original advertisement read, "Emory Grove, a community of durable and artistic homes owned by conservative cultured Americans".  Emory Grove consists of 3 streets, Princeton Way, Westminster Way, and Edinburgh Terrace, as well as a few homes along North Decatur Road.  Three Parks with baseball fields, walking areas, playgrounds, tennis courts and picnic areas are located within the neighborhood itself.

Mr. Smith then  emphasized the convenience to schools from kindergarten through University without crossing a thoroughfare, the location of Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist Churches within 4 blocks, paved streets and Park areas in each block, "where the investment of a reasonable sum of money plus well made plans will insure to those fortunate and wise enough to investigate, both a comfortable home and an opportunity to grow with one of the most ideally located communities in or around Atlanta".  By the end of the second year, the area was 96% developed and owner occupied, although there were only a few homes on North Decatur Road at the time.

As the subdivision was built during the Depression/World War II years, most families had litle money and very few owned automobiles.  The women on the street liked to go to into Atlanta shopping and would ride the trolley, which ended at Emory Village.  During inclement weather, it was necessary to get a taxi to reach the Village.  Claude Jones had a Ford Sedan that belonged to his father and he ran the taxi service, charging 5 cents.

The original owners of this new subdivision were young couples who moved here to raise their families.  Arthur Hutchins was one of the early homeowners and was the first GBI agent in Georgia - the only one for some time.  The famous Presbyterian Minister, Peter Marshall, and his wife, Catherine, who wroter, "A Man Called Peter", lived in the Honeymoon Cottage, until they moved to Washington, D.C.

Except for the traffic, the area remains much the same today. It's  a vibrant, busy community with close neighbors and family-friendly Park events. Many of the homes have been renovated and updated, and new homeowners are enjoying the convenience to schools, shopping, and close-by restaurants.

In 2000, Emory Grove was listed on the Historic National Register, which protects the neighborhood from encroachment and maintains the integrity and scale of the homes.  Although surrounded by retail ventures and less than a mile from Emory University, Emory Grove is a charming oasis in the bustling City of Atlanta.